What is a clearing account?

A clearing account is a temporary balance that holds money between two real homes. You debit the wallet and credit clearing when a payout starts. You debit clearing when the rail pays. If clearing is not zero at the end of the day, something is still open or something broke.

How does a clearing account work?

A transfer often has two moments: you accept the obligation, and the rail finishes. Clearing is the account that sits between those moments. Deposits land in clearing until you know the customer. Payouts sit there until the bank file confirms the send.

Clearing vs inflight

Inflight is a hold on one transfer until you commit or void. A clearing account is a named balance that can hold many transfers. Use inflight when the wait is one decision. Use clearing when many items share a pot you must reconcile to a partner.

What should the balance be?

Open items only. A growing clearing balance that never drains is unreconciled payouts, unmatched deposits, or a post you forgot to reverse. Age it. Do not use clearing as revenue.

Name the wait as an internal balance, such as @PayoutUSD_ACH or @ClearingUSD. Hold the transfer inflight, then commit or void when the rail settles. See internal balances.